THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1262, 18 October 1911, Page 8

THE HOUSE.

HEAVY WORK IN THE SMALL HOURS. Tho House of Representatives sat yesterday morning until 3.15 a.m. and completed tho heaviest night's work of the present session. Tho sitting lasted for only seven hours and three-quarters, but apart iroin ot'her business, three important Bills wore read a second timo and six others, of which a majority were important, were considered in Committee, read a third time and passed. Only one Bill (Old Ago Pensions) had been dealt with at midnight. After Tiie Dominion closed its columns tho consideration of Bills was continued iu Committee. DEATH DUTIES. Tho Death Duties Amendment Bill occasioned considerable discussion between tho Primo Minister and Mr. Jas. Allen. Mr. ALLEN contended that the proposal in tho Bill to exempt gifts of iiiOOO per annum from taxation was no real concession inasmuch as power already existed to make a gift of .£SOO during each six months frco of taxation. Moreover it was proposed to repeal a proviso in the existing Death Dulles Act which exempted gifts of small value from death duty. This proviso being repealed, such gifts would be regarded as tho property of tho man who mado thorn and would bo liable to death duty, if mado within threo Tears before his death.

Tho PRLME MINISTER contended that permission to give, awry ,£IOOO per year ireo of taxation instead of .£SOO every six months represented a real concession. As to tho proviso in regard to smaller gifts ho had been advised by tho Solicitor-General t'hat it was consequential upon tho alteration in reference to gifts of .£IOOO. It would have been necessary, iu any case, to repeal this proviso. Mr. ALLEN called for a division on the question of repealing tho proviso relatinir to small gift's, but the proposal was carried by 2!) votes to 17. The Bill was reported. PUBLIC WORKS AMENDMENT. During tho discr,s=iou upon tho Public Werks Amendment Bill Messrs. Allen and Pearco took exception to a clause providing that no ekctric lines must be constructed or used save under a license issued by tho Governor-m-CVyunoJl. Mr. ALLEN moved as an amendment: "Provided that this shall not restrict tho use of existing electric lines by farmers and other private individuals." '"he amendment was negatived by 30 votes to 17. At 2.D5 a.m. there were 29 members in the House. Mr. PBARGE took exception to tho provision that a,local body'mu.it obtain, nn Order-in-Couucil before erecting a tolle!,Tho Hon. R. M'KENZIE stated that one local body had sought to orect a. tollgate commanding a. road, and a bridijo which had cost .EnOOO, though both had been constructed with Government money. Jlesfra. Oke.v and Dive concurred with Mr. Pcarce in stating that tollgates wero undesirable themselves, but necessary in special circumstances. Mr. Dive cited the ci.« of n road which J: ad to bear heavy traffic for the bjiieiit of peoplo who paid r.o rates in the district.' Jlr. PEAKCE said this wsn another attempt to curtail or take away the power of local bodies. Tho Governor-in-Coim-cil provision- had been strenuously resisted upon issues less important than the present. Uron a division tho clause was upheld by HO votes to I.'). The Bill was reported without amend'"tlio' Hon. .1. A. MILLAK, who wn.i theu in charge of tho House, jjropossd to

go on with tho Elingamito Rehearing Bill und thb Dunediu Technical Scliooi Silo Bill, but Mr. Jas. Alien protested that tho Prime Minister had agreed to fciko no new bu.--inc.ss after disposing of tho Public Works Bill. After some discussion it was agroid to report progress. Members on both sides spent half on hour in putting on record objections which they had taken to tho measures approved in Committee. At tho request of Mr. Fraser, the Prime Minister repeated his promise. tha.t a legislative, remedy would bo provided this session for Hie injustice dene lo the m-.ni-piors of pastoral runs in the South Island by tho Rating Amendment Act of hist year. The House roso at 3.45 a.m., it lx>inp; agreed that Committees should not meet that day until 11 a.m.